The short version: a full-length runner is your table length plus 12 inches, which gives you about 6 inches hanging off each end. The width should be roughly a third of the table's width. A 72 x 36 inch table takes an 84 inch runner that is about 12 inches wide.
That is the rule most shops and decorators repeat, and it works. But plenty of nice runners don't come in those lengths, especially handmade ones, so the rest of this page covers what to do with a runner that is shorter or wider than the formula.
How to measure
- Measure the tabletop from end to end along the long side. If the table has a leaf you put in for holidays, measure it with the leaf in.
- Measure across the short side for the width.
- Decide on the drop: how far the runner hangs past each end. Six inches is the usual choice. Anything past about 12 inches starts landing in the lap of whoever sits at the end.
- Runner length = table length + (drop x 2).
If there is a tablecloth underneath, the runner should not hang lower than the cloth. Stop it at the cloth's edge or a little above.
Mentioned in this article
Size chart
| Table length | Runner length (6 in drop) | Runner length in cm | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 in | 48 in | about 122 cm | 2 to 4 |
| 48 in | 60 in | about 152 cm | 4 |
| 60 in | 72 in | about 183 cm | 4 to 6 |
| 72 in | 84 in | about 213 cm | 6 |
| 84 in | 96 in | about 244 cm | 6 to 8 |
| 96 in | 108 in | about 274 cm | 8 to 10 |
For width, divide the table width by three. A 36 inch wide table looks right with a 12 inch runner, a 42 inch table with about 14 inches. Going up to half the table width is fine if the runner is the main decoration and you are not setting full place settings on top of it.
Round and square tables
Use the diameter as the length and add the same drop. A 48 inch round table takes a 60 inch runner. On a round or square table you can also lay two runners in a cross, which covers the middle and gives every seat a bit of fabric in front of it. Crosswise runners usually look better a little narrower, closer to a quarter of the table width.
When your runner is shorter than the formula
This is common with embroidered and beaded runners, because each one takes days of handwork and most come out somewhere between 45 and 60 inches long. A short runner is not a mistake. It just has a different job:
- On a small table (about 36 to 45 inches long), a 50 to 57 inch runner gives you the normal 6 inch drop.
- On a long table, center it with no drop at all and let it sit under the centerpiece, candles or a bread board. The usual guide for a centerpiece runner is about a third of the table's length, so anything longer than that still reads as deliberate.
- On a sideboard, console or buffet, a short runner often fits better than a long one. Measure the top and leave a few inches of wood showing at each end.
- Across the table, two or three short runners laid widthwise act as shared placemats for the people facing each other.
Our holiday runners, measured
The handmade runners we carry are all in the short range, so here is where each one fits:
- Embroidered bell on sage green, 126 x 47 cm (about 50 x 18.5 in). Full drop on a 38 inch table, or a centerpiece on anything longer.
- Embroidered snowy cabin on charcoal, same size as the bell runner.
- Christmas gobelin runner, 135 x 42 cm (about 53 x 16.5 in). Fits a 41 inch table with a 6 inch drop.
- Beaded fall runner, 125 x 43 cm, for Thanksgiving on a small table or a sideboard.
Each of these has one piece in stock. The rest of the holiday pieces, including beaded velvet pillow covers, are in our handmade Christmas collection.
Looking after embroidered and beaded runners
Spot clean spills right away with cold water and a little mild soap, blotting instead of rubbing. Don't wring beadwork or put it in a dryer. If it needs pressing, iron from the back with a towel underneath so the beads and stitches sink into the towel instead of getting flattened. Store it rolled rather than folded, so you don't get a hard crease across the embroidery.
Questions people ask
How long should a table runner be for a 6 foot table?
84 inches for a 6 inch drop at each end, or up to about 96 inches if you like a longer hang.
How wide should a table runner be?
About a third of the table width. For most dining tables that lands between 12 and 16 inches.
Should a table runner hang over the edge?
It doesn't have to. A runner that stops short of the ends is a centerpiece runner, and it is a normal choice for long tables and everyday use.
Can you put a table runner on a tablecloth?
Yes. Keep the runner's ends level with or above the edge of the cloth so the two layers don't hang at different lengths.